Multicolor-printing press.



No. 637,577. Patented Nov. 2|, I899.

' E. HETT.

MULTICOLOR PRINTING PRESS.

(Application filed Jan. 3, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR i BY 00C? ATTO NEYS 1w: "cams PETERS w. Puorou' ua, wAsHmsTou. n. c

N0. 637,577. Patented Nov. 2|, I899. E. HETT.

MULTICOLOB PRINTING PRESS.

(Application filed Jan. 3. 1899.) (No Model) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

WIITNESSES:

' INVENTOR 3 Z maxi:

ATTORNEYS 11-4: Noam: wrrsns cu, woTo-uwo wmulunrou. n, c.

No. 037,577. Patentedflov. 2|; I899.

' E. HETT.

MULTICOLUR PRINTING PRESS.

(Application filed Jan. 8, 1899i 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 (N0 Model.)

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS is a specification.

i rice.

EDWARD HETT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MULTI COLOR-P RI N TING PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 637,577, dated November 21-, 1899.

A plication filed January 3, 1899.

To otZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, EDWARDHETT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, (New Dorp,) in the county of Richmond, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multicolor-Printing Presses, of which the following My invention has special reference to a multicolor-printing press such, forinstance, as is shown in my application for patent filed July 19, 1894, and serially numbered 508,015, renewed May 27, 1899, Serial No. 718,570-although some of its features have a more general application and use.

It has for its object to improve and perfect the supply system for the inking mechanism of such presses; and it consists in the arrangement and combination of such supply devices as are herein shown and set forth.

The accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, represent the supply system for the inking mechanism of a multicolor lithographic press embodying my invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing that portion of the ink-supply system .which may be located at a distance from the press itself. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a part of the left-hand side of the press, the point whereithe paper enters the press to be printedbeing regarded as the front. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow and showing a part of one of the'inksupply duets with its ink-fountain.

Like letters of reference in the several figures indicate like parts.

A indicates the shaft of a large drum (not otherwise shown) the outer surface of which constitutes the impression surface of the press.

B indicates one of a series of cylindrical printing surfaces or tubes, which may be driven and handled in any suitable way.

0 represents one ofa series of ink-fountains, preferably air-tight, one for each printing-surface and each mounted near its printing-surface, each ink-fountain inclosing, as shown in the drawings, Fig. 4, a perforated delivery-tube D, which may be the terminal portion of the ink-supply duct or otherwise a continuation of the said duct, the said per- $erial N5. 700,926. on) model.)

forated delivery-tube being, however, of the same or substantially the same diameter as the duct of which it forms a terminal portion.

ameter as the duct of which it forms the terminal portion, by means of which a uniform and well-distributed delivery of ink is secured throughout the whole length of the delivery-tube. The ink-fountain O, as shown in Fig. 4, is provided with the ordinary inkfeeding roller E in its mouth, and a suitable group of ink-distributing rollers carry the ink from the ink-feeding roller to the printing-surface and include a'main ink-distributing roller, the gearing of which is shown at F.

G represents a series of ink-reservoirs or mixing and storing vessels, which may be situated at a distance from the press and the printing-snrfaces-that is, relatively to the ink-fountain O. Theink-reservoirs are large enough to contain a considerable supply of ink and are provided collectively with mechanism for automatically applying varying degrees of pressure to the body of ink in each or any of the reservoirs and independently ofeach other in order to force the ink to the various ink-fountains with varying degrees of pressure and likewise independently of each other.

H represents a series of air-tight ink-ducts connecting each reservoir G with its individual ink-fountain C. These ink-ducts are led to the centers of the mountings of the several main ink-distributing rollers F and thence to the correspondingink-fountains O, as shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4:.

a is a liquid-tight joint in each ink-duct H, so constructed that the portion of the duct beyond the joint may turn by means of the joint when the inking-frame, with its rollers, including the ink-fountain C, swings away from or toward the printing-rolleron the center coincident with the shaft of the ink-distributing roller F.

b, c, and 01 represent a portion ofthe inkducts, respectively, at points where the somewhat difierent methods of securing the swinging capacity of the inking-frames are attained.

In the form of press constructed as shown in the drawings, Fig; 3, additional joints. for

permitting the duct to swing with the inkingframe are in some situations'rendered necessary to avoid collision with other parts-of the press. At the right and at the left hand side of Fig. 3 is shown in dotted lines an ink-duct with jointed connections so disposed as to permit an inking-frame of the press located at; 7 these points, respectively,'to-swing to and from its printing-roller. These ink-ducts are marked S and T, respectively. An ink-duct of Fig. 3.

(marked U) similarly jointed for a like-purpose is shown in full lines nearthe bottom In these instances there are three joints with two intervening lengths of inkduct between them. Each ink-duct is pro vided' with a valve 6 near the ink-fountain for regulating the flow of ink into the same.

1 represents an air-pump mechanism for automatically forcing the ink from the ink.- reservoirs G throughthe ink-ducts H to the ink-fountains 0. Any suitable air-pump may be employed-such, for example, as the Clayj ton electric pump. This is preferably accom-' plished', as shown in the drawings, in the following manner: The ordinary atmosphere admitted into the 'pumpis forced, through the air-pipe J into an air-pressure cylinder K,

from which the air issues under pressurev through pipe L, the flow of the air being regu-i lated by valve M Above reservoir K, Figs.- 1 and 2, and connected therewith are shown an ordinarysafety-valve and connections.

The 'detailsof this form no part of my inveni the air-pressure cylinder and in that part of thepipe L between the valve and the said The-air-pipe L connects with'a.

tion, but may be described as follows: The weight g, with its leverage, is supposed to exert normally such a power as to keep the valvej seated. Any increase of air-pressure in the tankrwill tend to open the valve. 11 is the fulcrum, and h is a dash-pot to prevent a too-sudden opening or closing of the valve. I

A gage N indicates the degree of pressure in cylinder. distributingair pipe or pipes, there being two such pipes to' meet the requirements of the,

specific arrangement of two rows of ink-reservoirs shown in the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2. From the distributing air-pipes O branch" pipes P conduct the air into the top'of the.

ink reservoirs G, respectively, there being one branch pipe for each reservoir.

1 Q is a gage showing the degreeof pressure in the system between the valves M and a series ofvalves B, one for each of the branch air-pipes'P, the purpose of the valves R beingto regulate the degree of pressure upon the surface of the ink in'the reservoirs G, respectively, and independently of each other. The cover of "each reservoir is securely held in place by clamping-screws or other suitable devices, 'andit is provided with an escape-valve or petcock f for reducing, when desirable, the air pressure within the reservoiras, for example, when the cover is to be removed for anypurpose,-the valve'R being in such case previously closed. By means of thevalve R.

an air-pressure is secured suitable for induc ing the desired rapidity of flow of each particular ink-fountain out from it's reservoir and through the ink-ducts H into the series of inkfountains 0, one of which, with its joint, valve, andperforatedterminal,is shown'in detail in Fig. 4 of the drawings. f I I By means ofthisink-supply system an ex- "act and properly-regulated supply of ink into any individual ink-fountain from its own inkreservoir is'secured, notwithstandingthe varying degreeof'fluidity'of the inks employed, :the varying friction of the ducts, or the vary- :ing distances between the ink-reservoirs and ink-fountains, respectively, .the whole opera:

tionbeing substantially automatic in character and applicable-tothe reservoirs and founytairis independently of each other.

The air-pump may be operated by the power which operatesthe press as may be desired.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1; In a multicolor-press, an ink-supply-systern consistingrof a series of ink-fountains, each connected by an indep'endentinbduot with its own ink-reservoir, anda'suitable airpressure mechanism by which the pressure of air upon the ink contained in each reservoir and consequentlythe flow of ink toeach'fountain may be independently-and accurately regulated, substantially as set forth;

2." In a multicolor-printing press,an"inkitself or otherwise,

supplysystemconsisting of a series of inkan air-pump, an air-cylinder, main pipe, with .valve,and distributingpipe or pipes, having branch pipes, one leadingto each reservoir and each provided with a valve, substantially as set' 'forth.

V 4. In a multicolor-printing press an inksupply system consisting of a series of inkfountains, each connected by an independent ink-duct with its own ink-reservoir, and a suitable air-pressure mechanism consisting of an air-pump, an air-cylinder, main pipe, with valve and gage, and distributing pipe or pipes,

having branch pipes, on'e leading to each reser voir and'each provided with a valve 'and'gage,

substantially as set forth.

5. In a multicolor-printing press, an ink- ;supply system consisting of a series of ink fountains, eachgconnected by an independent of the ink-duct and of the same or substantially the same diameter as the ink-duct, and an air-pressure mechanism with suitable pressure-regulating devices, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signedmy name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD HETT.

Witnesses:

G. W. DONALDSON, EDWIN SEGER. 

